POPPY - ZIG
Poppy has quickly risen to become one of the most intriguing and influential figures in the music industry. With her ethereal voice and enigmatic persona, she has captivated audiences worldwide, blurring the lines between reality and artistry. Starting her career on YouTube, Poppy quickly gained a massive following with her surreal videos and catchy electro-pop tunes. Her debut studio album, Poppy.Computer in 2017, showcased her unique blend of innocent pop melodies with darker undertones. Poppy's music and visuals are deeply thought-provoking, exploring themes of identity, consumerism, and fame. With her ever-evolving sound and mesmerizing performances, Poppy continues to push boundaries in each release, even evident in the recent, Zig, solidifying her status as an icon for the digital age.
‘Church Outfit’, the album’s opener, draws listeners in with the eerie vocals accompanied by filters to fit perfectly with the instrumentals giving a strong horror theme to the track which shows how much Poppy wants to be a person more for herself than to live for anyone else.
Bringing in the synths, ‘Knockoff’ is a prime example of Poppy showing she doesn’t want to be something non-genuine which is also evident in the music video for this track, adding a not to who she was before in her YouTube days and wanting to break free from that and be the person she wants to be and has grown into in the past few years.
‘What It Becomes’ begins with strings and helps to shed light on the world we see today and realizing everything is different as an adult than an adolescent mind. Talking about needing to be alone with one’s thoughts because the world outside can become overbearing.
‘Flicker’ shows as a testament of being the strong woman that Poppy is and not needing others to try to pressure her into being something she isn’t. Knowing that people feed off of putting others down, and pushing back on that.
The album’s title track, ‘Zig’, brings a whimsical element to the album, using more of a pop-like intro until about a minute through before the heavier tones come back in the chorus to create somewhat of a cyber-punk track which fits her perfectly with the lyrics and overall beat of the track.
‘Linger’ takes a different turn from those previously heard in the album. Soft guitars accompanied by Poppy’s voice help to create a calm, and soothing while showing the pain of growing distant from someone that used to mean the world to you and feeling your world crush but still wanting the person.
‘Motorbike’ shows a more sexual side to the album, showing Poppy is a woman who knows who she is and what she wants. Talking about seeing a woman seem so in power and wanting to be with her. Using the line “I want to love her, I want to know / What it’s like to be between her (legs)” to accentuate this while showing how admirable the woman in question is and how much power she holds.
With an artist like Poppy it’s clear you never know what you’re going to get. Through pop tunes like ‘Girls in Bikinis’ and high energy tracks like ‘X,’ and now electro-punk with this new album, Poppy is incredible at choosing the right way to portray her message in ways the listener can resonate with, and this album is a prime example of that, having no two songs sound the same.
Niki Davidson
★★★★☆